Two faced, multiple thumbwheel-type switch assembly having plural actuators and linearly mounting structure

ABSTRACT

A multiple switch suited for mounting on printed circuit cards in which the switch units are placed side-by-side in an elongated frame. Each unit may have a unique printed circuit held by a rotor. Multiple stationary fingers make contact with the circuit on the rotor and also provide an axial mechanical bias to accomplish detenting in coaction with an axial cam. Two modes of actuation are possible; by a shaft or by a serrated periphery of the rotor. Dual indication of the position of the rotor is supplied by indicia on the disk of the rotor and on a cylindrical portion of the rotor. The structure enables easy assembly and disassembly, either before or after mounting on a circuit card.

United States Patent Marker Sept. 2, 1975 TWO FACED, MULTIPLE 3,691,3269/1972 Grossman 61 al 200/11 TW THUMBWHEEL TYPE SWITCH ASSEMBLY3,699,279 [0/1972 Lockard et ah... ZOO/ll DA X 3,719,735 3 1973 Kendall61 al 200/307 x HAVING PLURAL ACTUATORS AND 3,736,390 5/1973 Lockard200/11 DA [75] Inventor: Harry R. Marker, Costa Mesa,

C lif IEEE, IEEE Intercon 1974 Official Program, 3l974, 7 A El t E C fpertinent pages (cover; pp. 70, 71; pp. 80, 8]). 1 'l EECO, Introducingthe TwoFaced Switch, 3-29 74,

California, Santa Ana, Calif.

all pages. [22] Filed: June 17, 1974 NO: Primary Examiner-James SCOIIAttorney, Agent, or FirmHarry R. Lubcke [52] US. Cl. 200/11 TW; 200/11G; ZOO/291;

200/307; 200/308 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. H0111 21/50 A multipleSwitch Suited f r m un ing on printed cir- [58] Field of Sear h 200/1 1D, 1 1 DA 1 1 TW cuit cards in which the switch units are placedside-by- 200/17 R, 292, 307, 308, 11 G, 11 K, 291 Side in an elongatedframe. Each unit may have a unique printed circuit held by a rotor.Multiple sta- [56] References Cit d tionary fingers make contact withthe circuit on the I'OtOI' and also provide an axial mechanical bias [08C- complish detenting in coaction with an axial cam. Two 2,543,3732/1951 Nesson ZOO/ll G X d f b h ft b 2,853,564 9/1958 Gahagan 200 11 DAux m0 es 0 ,actudmn are POSS Y 3 030 460 4/1962 Hume ct a] 200 l G ratedperlphery of the rotor. Dual 1nd1cat1on of the po- 3:260:805 7/1966 p izoo/l1 G sition of the rotor is supplied by indicia on the disk of3,300,594 1 1967 Paine Ct al. 200/11 G the rotor and On a Cylindricalportion of the rotorh 3,371,167 2/1968 Soulakis, Jr 200/11 G structureenables easy assembly and disassembly, ei- .4 5/ iam t nim Z O/308 Xther before or after mounting on a circuit card, 3,470,333 9/1969Schneider ct al. 200/l l G 3,665,127 5 1972 Lockard et al. 200/11 TW 11Claims, 13 Drawlng Figures IV/ I I I rr/ 127 O O 4 1e 15 l7 0 o o 6 o 8o 38 26 3| 0 o o o 0 3 6 I6 o 7W 1Qo1 38- 33 f '6 K 8" E I 3 39; 29

LINEARLY MOUNTING STRUCTURE OTHER PUBLICATIONS PATEIHE SEP 21975 SHEET 1BF 3 FIG. 4.

FIG. 1.

FIG. 3.

PATENTEU SE? ZIQYS SHEET 2 0F 3 FIG. 9.

,32 WW WM l8 l8 l 1. g fi=: I?

Pmmgg SEP 2 r975 3. 808 383 mm 3 1K 3 FIG. l3.

TWO FACED, MULTIPLE THUMBWHEEL-TYPE SWITCH ASSEMBLY HAVING PLURALACTUATORS AND LINEARLY MOUNTING STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention pertains to multiple circuit control of, typically,printed circuits.

Much of the prior art has disclosed multiple switches with sectionsaxially joined rather than framed side-by side.

One embodiment is a single unit automobile type switch havingcircumferentially disposed rotatable protuberance solid contacts thatcoact with conventionally disposed circumferential contacts mounted upona stationary disk. It is key operated and is embodied in a maximum offour positions. All rotatable contacts are in a common shortingconfiguration. Plural spring fingers mechanically associated with thecontacts provide axial mechanical bias for detenting action but do notact in any way as electrical contacts. Detenting undula' tions areperipheral. Indicia are not provided.

Another prior art embodiment has plural axially related switch elementsand uses only a peripherally serrated thumbwheel for actuation. A singlecontact therein selectively contacts a plurality of circumferentiallyarranged common bus-bar stationary contacts. Detenting is by a leafspring bearing upon the thumbwheel serrations. Indicia are viewed upon adrum of the thumbwheel.

Two other embodiments have thumbwheel rotatable contacts withcircumferential drum indicia and leaf spring detent members bearing uponthe indentations of the thumbwheels. Etched-circuit stationary contactsare coactive with the rotatable contacts. The multiple switcharrangement is axial, with one switch unit flat against the next, like asandwich.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The side-by-side configuration of themultiple switch of this invention allows dual manual actuation and dualexhibition of indicia. Actuation may be by shaft, with indicia visibleadjacent thereto, or actuation may be by serrated periphery of the rotorelement, with indicia visible adjacent thereto.

The rotor carries a pattern of contacts, which may have anyconfiguration, and which may be conveniently formed by printed circuitetch techniques.

Aligned cantilever spring contacts bear upon the rotor pattern and exertan axial mechanical bias on the rotor.

A serrated axial cam immediately surrounds the shaft of the rotor. Themultiple section side-by-side stationary frame nests each rotorshaftassembly and includes a stationary serrated axial cam aligned to coactwith the rotor cam.

The spring contacts provide mechanical bias for the functioning of theaxial cam structure as well as acting as electrical contacts.

The frame includes a bearing for each shaft and an aperture forobserving an indicum of the rotor indicia at a time. This aperture is onthe face of the frame through which the shaft isjournaled. The framealso includes an aperture for each rotor on one side, or edge, throughwhich the serrated periphery extends and through which indicia on thecylindrical drum portion of the rotor may be observed, typically anindicum at a time.

Each rotor may be provided with a removable disk carrying the pattern ofcontacts, so that the pattern can be exchanged at will.

The enclosing rear of the frame carries the stationary spring contacts.It is removably fastened in place by plural semispring compression-pinprotuberances on the main part of the frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.

FIG.

FIG.

FIG.

FIG.

FIG.

FIG.

FIG.

disk.

FIG. 9 is an interior view of the contact-carrying board, showingillustrative contact combinations.

FIG. 10 is a rear, interior, view of the multiple frame.

FIG. 11 is an edge view of an alternate embodiment of the rotor element,showing an extended shaft.

FIG. 12 is a nearly assembled edge view of plural switch parts forproviding a multiple switch of extended length.

FIG. 13 is an assembled view, in section along line 13 13 in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1 numeral 1 indicatesthe multiple side-byside frame. While this can be fabricated to hold onerotor unit it is typically fabricated to hold plural such units, as fromtwo to eleven. By assembling the frames and the contact-carrying boardsin a staggered manner a longer strip of switches can be fabricated thanthe extent of any one frame.

Plural rotors 2, of FIGS. 5, 6 & 7, are individually housed in each unitor section of the frame. The rotors are journaled in central apertures3, of FIG. 10. These receive rotor shaft 4 of FIG. 6, or themodification 5 of FIG. 11. This shaft is provided with screwdriver slot6 in the basic embodiment, and may be also provided in the alternateembodiment of FIG. 11, although in the latter the knurled portion 7 ofthe shaft is provided for basic manual actuation.

Frame 1 is cast with three surfaces integral; the top 8 and two sides 9and 10. Each section of the frame has a rib l2, and at the ends of aframe a half-rib, either so cast or sawn. The half-rib l4 enables a fullrib with full holes, etc. to be formed when two frames are fastenedtogether to extend the total switch. The half-ribs also enclose theframe so that the switch is relatively immune to external ambientinfluences.

The rib area also includes a cylindrical hole 15, which extends largelythrough the extent of the frame and is surmounted by an integrally castcompressionpin 16 in each instance. The holes are provided to allowfasteners to be used for additionally securing the frame to a printedcircuit board, and also to maintain relatively uniform thickness ofmaterial according to known plastic casting practice. Pins 16 are usedto removably fasten the contact-carrying board 17. The lat- 1 is a topview of the assembled multiple switch. 2 is a side view of the same.

3 is a bottom view of the same.

4 is an end view of the same.

5 is a front view of a rotor element.

6 is an edge view of the same.

7 is a rear view of the same.

8 is a front view of a typical contact pattern ter has apertures 18,mating with pins 16, and half diameter apertures 18 mating with halfpins 16'.

While the composition of the plastic material used to cast the frame,preferably by injection molding, is subject to variation, a polyesterresin is preferred. This may be the General Electric materialValox.which has a low coefficient of friction and a degree ofselflubrication. These characteristics are desirable in the functioningof the axial cam and the journal for the shaft in this switch structure;also, in making compression-pins 16 suited for removing contact-carryingboard 17. These pins are typically formed in three lobes, as shown, witha slight ridge of increased diameter near the ends in order to seat theboard. The resin material has sufficient inherent elasticity to cause aslight deformation of the pins for holding the board.

The apertures on the top 8 of frame 1 are identified as 13 and arefan-shaped. Normally, these are dimensioned to exhibit only one indicumof the plural indicia to be found on rotor 2. In FIG. 1 the numerals 1"and 2 are exhibited.

The apertures on side of frame 1 are identified as 19 and arerectilinear. Indicia 1 and 2 are also exhibited in FIG. 2.

The indicia per se are carried by front disk 20 of rotor 2, of FIG. 5,and on cylindrical surface 21, of FIG. 6. The disk indicia are normallyarranged radially. The drum indicia may stand vertically, as seen inFIG. 2, or circumferentially, as seen in FIG. 6. The latter arrangementis convenient should the printed-circuit board 22, shown dotted in FIG.4, be mounted vertically in such a way that the switch standsvertically. One of the principal uses of the switch of this invention isfor mounting on such printed circuit (P.C.) boards.

The disk indicia 20 may be printed on a thin disk, usually white letterson a black background, or on a colored background for coding the circuitinvolved. The front face of rotor 2 is provided with an inwardprojection 23 at one point of the circumference and disk 20 is providedwith a mating recess. This fixes the circumferential position of thedisk with respect to the rotor so that the indicia will correctlysignify the switch contact pattern orientation as the switch rotor isrotated.

In addition to the screw-driver or knurled shaft means of rotating shaft4 of the rotors, each rotor is also provided with a serrated periphery24. This is externally accessible through a laterally elongated aperture25, of FIG. 2. The rotor may thus be rotated by frictional engagement ofany finger of the operator.

Injection molding of a polyester resin is also preferred for fabricatingthe rotor bodies.

A compact, internal detent mechanism is formed by serrated axial cam 26on rotor 2 (FIG. 5), and a companion stationary serrated axial cam 27(FIG. 10). These have sawtooth peaks and valleys at the same pitch asthe desired stationary circumferential positions of rotor 2. Typically,a valley on cam 27 is aligned with indicia aperture 13.

In the illustrative embodiment shown in the drawings the rotor has tenpositions. This is a desired number, but by understandable modificationof proportions this may be altered; such as to be eight, twelve orsixteen.

The switch sections may be arranged to accomplish various electricalswitching functions. In its simplest form each section is a single-polemultiple-throw (such as ten) switch. However, by appropriately disposingetched pattern 29 on glass-based epoxy board 30, in conjunction with themaximum of 12 spring contacts 31 per section, it is seen that numerousopen and close circuit functions may be accomplished at the differentcircumferential positions of the rotor.

A basic use for the switch is to convert a digital number into binarycoded logic for the electronic circuit to which it is connected. Thismay be considered as converting human language into electronic language.

The pattern shown at 29 in FIG. 8 accomplishes a coded output bydistributing a voltage from a common input on the center pad of thepattern to none or to several outputs depending upon the rotor position.

Another pattern makes simple Contact with a different finger at eachrotational position and the pattern appears as a lightning flash,progressing from a common terminal at the center of rotation outwardlyto the periphery.

The switch may be used to program microcomputer chips, to set timing intraffic signal timing, for testing printed circuit (p.c.) boards, or forchanging circuits on printed circuit boards or logic.

Often all rotors of the gnultiple switch have the same pattern 29 oneach, but this is not required. Each rotor may have a different pattern,or there may be any combination of similarity and dissimilarity.

Contacts 31 are preferably punched out of berylliumcopper sheetapproximately seven-thousandths of an inch thick and are gold overnickel plated.

The contacts are formed to have essentially three parts.

Looking at FIG. 2 the bottom part 310 is formed as a lug for a printedcircuit board or an equivalent, which lug may be wave-soldered. Thespatial relation between the lugs and a circuit board 22 is shown inFIG. 4.

The intermediate part of the lug is wide and provides a seat touniformly position each Contact through aligned holes 32 incontact-carrying board 17.

The contact part of each contact is shown dotted in FIG. 3 and in fulllines in FIG. 9. These are given an upward mechanical bias wheninstalled, so that they press firmly against the underside of each rotor2, upon a pattern 29, thereby to make good electrical contact and alsoto press the rotors firmly upward against fixed axial cam 27 of FIG. 10.This causes shaft 4 to properly journal in aperture 3.

The contacts thus serve a triple purpose; to provide external terminals,to make electrical contact with rotors, and to maintain a mechanicalbias upon the axial cam of the rotor-frame parts of the cam.

As seen in FIG. 9, two opposed rows of contacts 31 have been mounted inthe contact-carrying board 17 for the left-hand section. These arestaggered so that each contact occupies a unique position at theadjacent contact ends. One or two contacts at the center of each sectioncontact the central portion of the pattern, as in FIG. 8, and the othercontacts progressively contact parts of the pattern at greater radii asthese parts of the pattern are located away from the center.

The right-hand section in FIG. 9 shows contacts in only one row. This isthe configuration that is used for the pattern 29 of FIG. 8.

In FIG. 10 ring 33 is molded into the material of the frame. The ringhas a curved cross-section and extends away from the body of frame I.The ring provides a restriction to the front face of indicia ring 20 toprevent disengagement of indicia ring 20 with key 23.

These contacts are typically installed in each section of the switch ingroups of six or twelve, to provide adequate axial bias.

Other rotor pattern configurations may require utiliz ing only twocontacts, electrically. In this case the outer two contacts, atessentially maximum radius, would be used. Depending upon the switchingrequired, two to twelve of the available stationary contacts may beutilized.

Epoxy board of FIG. 8 fits into the step-like depression 34 in thebottom of rotor 2, as seen in FIG. 7. An extra-circumferential keyway isformed in the rotor body. A corresponding key 36 is formed in board 30,so that the circumferential integrity of the assembly will be maintainedand a given circumferential position of the rotor will always give aknown switching circuit configuration.

A group of small holes 38 is arranged in a circumference that isconcentric with shaft aperture 3. See FIG. 10. These are in the frameand just inside of the rim of each rotor at the same radius as inwardprojection 23; FIG. 5. These holes are for the insertion of a pin, suchas 39, in FIG. 10. This is inserted sufficiently far down in the frameto engage projection 23. Thus, the rotor cannot be rotated more than360.

By inserting two pins at selected holes 38 the arc of switching may berestricted as may be desired; to two switch positions as a practicalminimum. Restriction is desirable in circuit use where less than thefull number of possible switch positions are used. This preventsnon-operation of the circuits involved, or an undesired switching incertain instances. Pins 39 may be inserted or removed as desiredthroughout the life of the switch.

Size is not a restriction in the embodiment of this invention. Apresently useful embodiment may be inch wide by /s inch thick, with eachsection 13/16 inch long. Smaller size is attainable with increasedprecision of fabrication of the parts, and embodiments down to half thestated size could be useful.

The multiple switch of this invention may be extended to include moreswitching sections than the lateral extent of any molding size offrame 1. This is ac complished by staggering the assembly of the frameswith respect to contact-carrying boards 17, employing the compressionpins 16 for securing.

For instance, an eightsection switch may be assembled from twofour-section frames. A four-section contact board is pressed over thecompression pins of two sections of each of the frames; the two sectionsof each that are adjacent. This binds these three parts into a singlecomposite structure. A two-section board is then pressed upon thecompression pins at the two ends of the frames that are otherwisewithout the same and eight sections of frame are provided with eightsections of contact board.

The above configuration is shown in FIG. 12, in a nearly assembled blockstructure. The two frames 1 are spanned by the single contact board 17.Two additional half-length contact boards 17 are at the ends. Totalassembly is accomplished by pressing all of the contact boards upwardupon the compression pins (not shown) at the lower part of the frames.

I claim:

1. A flat, sidc-by-side, multiple switch structure comprising;

a. plural separate rotatable members (2), each having a switchingpattern of contacts (29),

aseparate externally accessible shaft (4) sur rounded by axial camprotuberances (26), and an externally accessible serrated periphery(24);

b. plural separate stationary linearly aligned groups of spring fingers(31) uniformly spaced within the group to electrically contact a saidswitching pattern of contacts (29),

and to also provide an axial mechanical bias upon a said rotatablemember; and

c. a multiple stationary frame (1), having companion axial camprotuberances (27), whereby said cam elements and the bias of saidfingers provides detent functioning.

2. The switch of claim 1, which additionally includes;

a. a replaceable disk (30) nested in each said rotatable member, and

b. a peripheral locking projection (36) formed in said disk; saidswitching pattern of contacts (29) carried by said disk (30).

3. The switch of claim 1, in which;

a. said rotatable members (2) have plural identifying indicia circularlydisposed upon a removable face (20) locked (23) at substantially rightangles to the axis of said externally accessible shaft (4), and

b. said frame has corresponding apertures (13) for selective externalviewing of one indicum of each said rotatable member that indicates thecircumferential position thereof.

4. The switch of claim 3, in which;

a. said rotor (2) has an inward projection (23),

b. said face (20) is a removable disk having a circumferential recessmating with said inward projection,

c. said frame (1) has a group of circumferentially arranged holes (38),and

d. at least one pin (39) in one of said holes,

to mechanically intercept said inward projection and limit the rotationof said rotor.

5. The switch of claim 1, in which;

a. said rotatable members have a cylindrical surface (21) coaxial withsaid externally accessible shaft b. plural identifying indicia aredisposed upon said cylindrical surface, and

c. said frame has corresponding apertures (19) for external viewing ofone indicum.

6. The switch of claim 5, in which;

a. said rotatable members (2) have plural identifying indicia upon botha face (20) at substantially right angles to the axis of said externallyaccessible shaft, and upon said cylindrical surface (21), and

b. said frame has two sets of corresponding apertures (13,19) forexternal viewing of said indicia.

7. The switch of claim 1, in which;

a. said externally accessible shaft (5) extends beyond said frame and iscircumferentially knurled (7).

8. The switch of claim 1, in which said frame (I) includes;

a. a removable contact-carrying board (17) having plural apertures (18),and

b. plural mating compression-pins (I6) to engage said apertures, wherebysaid frame may be manually removed from said board.

9. The switch of claim 8, in which;

a. a right angle extension external to said frame to act as externalterminals to said fingers. 11. The switch of claim 1, in which saidframe also includes;

a. a ring (33) circumferentially disposed adjacent to said stationaryaxial cam (27) to restrict axial displacement of indicia disk (20).

1. A flat, side-by-side, multiple switch structure comprising; a. pluralseparate rotatable members (2), each having a switching pattern ofcontacts (29), a separate externally accessible shaft (4) surrounded byaxial cam protuberances (26), and an externally accessible serratedperiphery (24); b. plural separate stationary linearly aligned groups ofspring fingers (31) uniformly spaced within the group to electricallycontact a said switching pattern of contacts (29), and to also providean axial mechanical bias upon a said rotatable member; and c. a multiplestationary frame (1), having companion axial cam protuberances (27),whereby said cam elements and the bias of said fingers provides detentfunctioning.
 2. The switch of claim 1, which additionally includes; a. areplaceable disk (30) nested in each said rotatable member, and b. aperipheral locking projection (36) formed in said disk; said switchingpattern of contacts (29) carried by said disk (30).
 3. The switch ofclaim 1, in which; a. said rotatable members (2) have plural identifyingindicia circularly disposed upon a removable face (20) locked (23) atsubstantially right angles to the axis of said externally accessibleshaft (4), and b. said frame has corresponding apertures (13) forselective external viewing of one indicum of each said rotatable memberthat indicates the circumferential position thereof.
 4. The switch ofclaim 3, in which; a. said rotor (2) has an inward projection (23), b.said face (20) is a removable disk having a circumferential recessmating with said inward projection, c. said frame (1) has a group ofcircumferentially arranged holes (38), and d. at least one pin (39) inone Of said holes, to mechanically intercept said inward projection andlimit the rotation of said rotor.
 5. The switch of claim 1, in which; a.said rotatable members have a cylindrical surface (21) coaxial with saidexternally accessible shaft (4), b. plural identifying indicia aredisposed upon said cylindrical surface, and c. said frame hascorresponding apertures (19) for external viewing of one indicum.
 6. Theswitch of claim 5, in which; a. said rotatable members (2) have pluralidentifying indicia upon both a face (20) at substantially right anglesto the axis of said externally accessible shaft, and upon saidcylindrical surface (21), and b. said frame has two sets ofcorresponding apertures (13,19) for external viewing of said indicia. 7.The switch of claim 1, in which; a. said externally accessible shaft (5)extends beyond said frame and is circumferentially knurled (7).
 8. Theswitch of claim 1, in which said frame (1) includes; a. a removablecontact-carrying board (17) having plural apertures (18), and b. pluralmating compression-pins (16) to engage said apertures, whereby saidframe may be manually removed from said board.
 9. The switch of claim 8,in which; a. plural contact-carrying boards (17) are assembled uponplural mating compression-pins (16) of plural frames (1) in a staggeredmanner, in which a said contact-carrying board (17) is attached to morethan one said frame, whereby a multiple switch of greater length thanthe extent of any one said frame is fabricated.
 10. The switch of claim1, in which said spring fingers (31) also include; a. a right angleextension external to said frame to act as external terminals to saidfingers.
 11. The switch of claim 1, in which said frame also includes;a. a ring (33) circumferentially disposed adjacent to said stationaryaxial cam (27) to restrict axial displacement of indicia disk (20).